The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has confirmed setting up of a committee to investigate the death of a staff of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Augustine Izekor, who was electrocuted on 26 October 2023.
In a statement on Wednesday, NERC said it had received a report on the fatal electrocution of the deceased, Izekor whose tragic demise occurred last Thursday.
The deceased was fatally electrocuted during the course of his official duties whilst working on the disconnection of supply in Evbodia Community in Oredo, Edo state.
The Guardian has earlier reported that Izekor embarked on an operation to restore electricity to Evbodia community when one of his colleagues reportedly called the control room for a power outage as work was in progress.
Another member of the team placed a counter call to the same control room for power to be restored, while Izekor was still working with his tools.
NERC said, as soon as Izekor was knocked down, some of his colleagues reportedly fled the scene, without informing the management or rushing the victim to the hospital for immediate medications, thereby raising suspicions about his death.
He was later rushed to Faith Mediplex Hospital in Benin City where he was eventually passed on.
NERC, in a statement also said it has contacted the wife of the deceased, Mrs. Helen Izekor to extend its condolences and provide assurances on compensation measures by the DisCo.
The statement partly reads “BEDC reported the accident to the Commission in compliance with the extant regulatory requirements and an Accident Investigation Team (“AIT”) has been constituted to investigate the immediate and remote circumstances leading to the fatal electrocution of the deceased.”
According to the statement, the commission will always remain committed to ensuring public safety in the delivery of services in the NESI in line with its zero tolerance for accident policy.
